Zimbabwe’s state-owned company Verify Engineering has confirmed the successful testing of a locally produced lithium-ion battery, in a development hailed as a key step toward industrializing the country’s mineral wealth.
The battery, which underwent trials over the past year, achieved a zero failure rate in final tests last month, according to the company’s CEO, Pedzisai Tapfumaneyi. He noted that the battery is expected to have a lifespan of about ten years.
The breakthrough comes as Zimbabwe prepares to ban the export of unprocessed lithium concentrate by 2027, aiming to retain more value from its vast mineral resources. Zimbabwe holds some of the largest lithium deposits in Africa and is positioning itself as a regional hub for battery manufacturing and green technology.
Tapfumaneyi said the company is now considering establishing a large-scale production facility to meet growing domestic and international demand. The government has long advocated for local beneficiation of strategic minerals, and this development is seen as a major boost to Zimbabwe’s ambitions in the clean energy supply chain.
The success of the battery project could create new industrial jobs, enhance energy independence, and attract further investment into Zimbabwe’s renewable energy and electric mobility sectors.
